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Works in default
It was not necessary for the Council to do work because of default of
owners, although tenders were obtained in one case. On this occasion,
work commenced at a time when tenders were to be opened.
Overcrowding
In four cases only did the department have necessity to investigate
overcrowded conditions, these being to the extent of 2½, 1 and ½
adult units respectively. The fourth case was one where the sexes were
mixed.
Housing Act, 1961, Part II
Houses in Multiple Occupation
In the changing condition in the mode of living, many people no
longer occupy a whole house for their family, but rent rooms or as in
many cases, a single room. What is even worse, many owners and
occupiers of houses (mainly the large older type of houses) receive
lodgers who share a room and all other facilities.
Because of these changed conditions, the Government in the Housing
Act, 1961 set aside part two in order that some wider control of such
premises could be provided. To assist in this direction, the Minister of
Housing and Local Government, under the powers given to him in
Section 13, made regulations called the Housing (Management of
Houses in Multiple Occupation) Regulations, 1962 which came into
operation on 22nd May, 1962.
These regulations apply where an Order as provided in Section 12
has been made.
Section 15 empowers the local authority by the serving of a notice
to require works dealing with natural and artificial lighting, ventilation,
water supply, etc. (where such things are defective) to be provided or
maintained in good condition. They must take into consideration the
number of individuals or households or both, accommodated for the
time being on the premises.
Section 16 empowers the local authority where appropriate, to require
provision of means of escape from fire.
Spot checks were made during October on a number of houses where
it was thought that the provisions of the Housing Act, 1961 could
apply. Eighteen houses were visited and of there eleven were found to
house more than two families each, the number of families varying
from three to sixteen. It was during the survey that three of the overcrowding
cases were found.
One large house in the Wanstead area was found to have in its
grounds a summer house in which a family lived without any form of
sanitation or without a water supply from the Water Board's main.
The Public Health Committee dealt with this case as provided for in
the 1957 Housing Act.
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